adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ o ̇ -t ō - ' se-f( ə -)l ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Greek autokephalos, from Greek aut- + kephal ē head ― more at CEPHALIC
Date: 1863
: being independent of external and especially patriarchal authority ― used especially of Eastern national churches
– au · to · ceph · a · ly \ -f ə -l ē \ noun